While this doesn’t affect any ongoing relationships the organisation has with its current roster of agencies, Ross Antrobus, head of research and insight at The FA, said he wanted to hear ideas from agencies it doesn’t currently work with.

“It’s about expanding our horizon, we’re not replacing existing agencies but we need more support as more insight is required in The FA and this is about finding out where we get that from.

“We don’t want to stand still and do the same thing season after season,” added Antrobus.

Areas the Football Association is currently researching include encouraging young girls to get involved and play the game and how to keep young men playing as they move from teenager to adult.

One mandatory question the research agencies will have to answer is ‘what are we (The FA) missing out on by not working with you?’ with other specific questions still to be decided.

The meetings will take place on 30^th and 31^st March at Wembley. Any agency wanting to express interest should email researchandinsight@thefa.com.